Will Eckels leave office early?

The Chronicle reports today that Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, who has held the top elected post in the county since 1995, may be considering leaving office before his current term expires to take a job in the private sector. "In the last 90 days I've had conversations with a New York firm and international investment banking firms," Eckels said. "I have had more serious discussions than in the past. They are more concrete."

Though Eckels didn't give much indication as to what he's planning, other county officials were happy to put their two cents in — and from what they said, it sounds like Eckels is, indeed, on his way out. "There's no doubt Robert is considering doing something else," Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt told the Chronicle. "He's already served 12 years in this job. There comes a time when everyone had to decide what difference they can make and whether they are ready for the next phase of their lives." County Commissioner Steve Radack was a little more direct: "From all indications, it seems he's decided he's found something better and is resigning. This is real," Radack said. But Radack admitted he doesn't have any firsthand word from Eckels, with whom he's often at political odds: "He hasn't talked to me about it and I wouldn't expect him to," Radack said. "We aren't big political buddies. We're not even little ones." One person Eckels has spoken to, Commissioner El Franco Lee, downplayed the rumors: "It sounds like he's interested in what they are saying. He's been down this road so many times."

If Eckels does decide to leave office, filling his position should be an interesting process. The state constitution doesn't allow offices to be vacant, so Eckels would not be able to step down until his successor is appointed by the four county commissioners. The thing is, two of the commissioners are Republicans and two are Democrats; if they end up in a deadlock over choosing a new judge, Eckels, who is a Republican, could break the tie. So it's little surprise that the potential successors the Chronicle named — Bettencourt, District Clerk Charles Bacarisse, county Commissioner Jerry Eversole and businessman Ned Holmes — are all Republicans.